Lib Dems and Eurofighter

Allan Knox and the Lib Dems have set out clearly and honestly on how they stand on future defence procurement. They have come to the conclusion that procurement of Tranche 3B of Eurofighter would not be in the best interests of future defence policy.

Neither Tory nor Labour manifestos say what they will do about Tranche 3B. Allan said:"I think they are both being disingenuous with the electorate. Both parties say they will have a defence review in the next parliament which in all probability will conclude that they will not sign up for Tranche 3B.

"Lib Dems are clear about where they want to see future defence projects and will support the continued procurement from BAE for Tranche 3A as well as the Joint Strike fighter and Drones projects.

"Finally, I find it a sad reflection on politics that one of my opponents resorts to scare tactics in one of his leaflets where he says that we will scrap Tranche 3 with the implication that we mean 3A as well as 3B when in our manifesto we clearly set out we would not sign up for 3B

"Scrapping 3A not only would be stupid due to the loss of jobs but would also incur significant penalty costs on the country which would make its scrapping pointless.

"I feel the accusation speaks more abut the desperation of their campaign than any serious discussion of defence issues."

4 steps to a fairer Britain

Allan Knox and the Liberal Democrats have launched their four steps to a fairer Britain. These are:

Fair taxes that put money back in your pocket

* The first £10,000 you earn tax-free: a tax cut of £700 for most people
* 3.6 million low earners and pensioners freed from income tax completely
* Paid for in full by closing loopholes that unfairly benefit the wealthy and polluters

A fair future creating jobs by making Britain greener

* Break up the banks and get them lending again to protect real businesses
* Honesty about the tough choices needed to cut the deficit
* Green growth and jobs that last by investing in infrastructure
A fair chance for every child

* Ensure children get the individual attention they need by cutting class sizes
* Made possible by investing £2.5 billion in schools targeted to help struggling pupils
* Give schools the freedom to make the right choices for their pupils

A fair deal by cleaning up politics

* Put trust back into politics by giving you the right to sack corrupt MPs
* Restore and protect hard-won British civil liberties with a Freedom Bill
* Overhaul Westminster completely: fair votes, an elected House of Lords, all politicians to pay full British taxes

Allan Knox said:"You've been let down by Labour for the last 13 years. You've had 65 years of Labour and Conservative Governments taking it in turns to make the same old mistakes over and over again. The choice in this election is between more of the same with Labour and the Conservatives or real change with the Liberal Democrats. We will clean up politics. We will deliver fairness. We will change Britain."

Allan Knox backs Community Pubs, Local Brewers and Consumer Rights!

Allan Knox, Ribble Valley Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for the Ribble Valley constituency has today committed to:

• Promote the interests of Britain’s pub goers
• Champion well-run community pubs
• Support the rebalancing alcohol taxation to support beer and pubs
• Press for reform of beer tie to deliver a fair deal for consumers
• Support the role of well-run pubs as solutions to alcohol misuse

These commitments are based on a campaign being run by CAMRA, The Campaign for Real Ale which is asking all Prospective Parliamentary Candidates whether they are willing to speak up for Beer Drinkers and Pub Goers. CAMRA’s new Beer Drinkers and Pub Goers Charter sets out a series of options for supporting well-run community pubs, local brewers and consumer rights.

Mike Benner, CAMRA’s Chief Executive welcomed Allan Knox’s support for the Charter, saying:

"We are delighted that Allan Knox has promised to work to promote the interests of beer drinkers and pub goers. Well-run pubs make a huge contribution to community life, each of which injects £80,000 into their local economy every year. Amid growing concern over the loss of more than 5 pubs a day, it is now more important than ever to support well-run community pubs, to promote local brewers and to protect the interests of consumers."

Speaking after signing up to CAMRA’s Beer Drinkers and Pub Goers Charter, Allan Knox said: "I am proud to be speaking up for community pubs, local brewers and consumers. Well-run pubs are the bedrock of community life - they are part of the solution to the problem of alcohol misuse and not part of the problem. They deserve our support."

Allan Knox pledges support for NSPCC General Election campaign to protect children

Allan Knox, prospective parliamentary candidate for Ribble Valley, has pledged to support the NSPCC’s ‘I stand for children’ campaign which aims to make child protection a priority for the next Parliament.

Allan Knox said: “As the Lib Dem candidate in Ribble Valley I’m supporting the NSPCC’s new campaign to ensure protecting children is a political priority: I Stand for Children.”

The NSPCC’s campaign is calling on candidates to commit to a range of child protection measures including:

• Making the internet safer for children
• Continued funding of helpline services for children and for adults concerned about the safety or welfare of a child
• Tackling domestic violence from a child's point of view
• Ensuring that vital child protection reforms are fully implemented and resourced, following the death of Baby Peter and other child deaths since
• Provision of resources for vital therapeutic services for children who have experienced abuse
• Strengthening the role of the children's commissioner in England to act as a genuinely independent voice for children.

The charity’s Diana Sutton, head of the public affairs and campaigns unit at the NSPCC, said: “We need to make sure that the next elected Government keeps child protection high on its list of priorities. By signing up to our campaign, candidates in this next general election can help. The public can play their role by letting the politicians know what they want done.”

Where would we be without our National Health Service?

The NHS services we all use and rely on are admired by people in almost every country in the world. Our doctors, nurses and many other health professionals and staff who work for the NHS do an amazing job for us every single day for people in Clitheroe and the Ribble Valley.

But just imagine for a second what things would be like if they were not there.

We could end up with a health system like they have in America (the one President Barack Obama is trying to change). In America, families have to pay huge sums of money each year for health care.

What happens in America if you can’t afford it? Well in the case of millions of pensioners and less well off people, you can be turned away from a hospital no matter how much you are in need.
We must never allow this to happen here - we must protect our NHS.

Today our NHS is under greater threat than ever. We have had a Labour Government that has wasted millions of pounds on bureaucracy while putting front line services in jeopardy.

Many people will also remember the damage the last Conservative Government did to our NHS.
Over Christmas the Daily Telegraph reported that David Cameron held an hour of talks with a group that wants ‘the full privatisation of the NHS’. Another top Conservative has appeared on American TV to oppose Barack Obama’s plans to reform healthcare. He described our NHS as a ‘sixty year mistake’.

No wonder most people don’t believe that the Conservatives can be trusted with our NHS again.
That’s why we need a strong local MP to fight for local health services. That’s why last August I was one of the first to criticise the decision to suspend work on Clitheroe hospital.

I hope you will now join me by backing Nick Clegg’s NHS guarantee - to find out more please do see the enclosed leaflet. With your support, we can get real change in Britain and protect our NHS.

No More Westminster Gravy Train

I am sure like me you will have been appalled by the behaviour of the country’s MPs over the past year or so and the expenses scandal.

That’s why I am launching my campaign for Ribble Valley by stating what I will do as your MP - and what I won’t.

• As your MP, my main priority will be to work for you the people of Ribble Valley, I will not hang around in Westminster as lobby fodder for the party whips when I could be meeting with and working for you, nor will I travel the world on so called fact-finding trips.
• I will not claim for mortgage interest on any property, nor will I employ any members of my family.
• If I decide to rent a second home in London, I will furnish it at my own expense and pay all bills myself.
• I will not claim for any meals while I am Westminster, and only for 2nd class rail fares.
• I will be open and honest about all expenses involved in representing you.
• Every 6 months I will report back to you on what I have been doing for the people of Ribble Valley constituency.
• I will support legislation that will give you the right to sack corrupt MPs.

Obviously this will will only be a start and all MP elected at this election will have a hard job to regain public trust.

I will be open and honest in everything I do and as your MP all my work will be carried out in light of the pledges I have made above.

Allan Knox puts fairness at the heart of the Liberal Democrat campaign for Ribble Valley

The Liberal Democrats have announced they will fight the General Election on four key principles, designed to make Britain a fairer place.
PPC for Ribble valley, _Allan Knox_, has today set out his campaign priorities: fair taxes; a fair start for every child; fair, clean and local politics and a fair, green economy with jobs that last.

Allan Knox said:

“People in _Ribble valley_ have been let down by their politicians and are rightly frustrated. I am going into the election with a clear direction and a manifesto that is short, direct and to the point.

“We will introduce fairer taxes by closing loopholes for the richest, introducing a tax on mansions and tax cuts of £700 for everyone else.

“If your child is at school in Ribble valley, we can promise investment to help reduce class sizes, improve discipline and develop one-to-one tuition.

“We would also give you the right to sack your MP. The Liberal Democrats are the only party committed to real change of our political system, flushing out big money and corrupt donors and reducing the number of MPs by 150.

“And we will rebuild the economy in every part of Britain in a way that promotes green technology and creates lasting jobs. We will put an end to casino banking, bring back competition and support local entrepreneurs to make sure Ribble valley businesses can find the money they need to grow.

“The coming months are a crucial time for politics and I will be using them to focus on these four priorities and delivering real change for Ribble valley.”

In his speech this morning Leader of the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg said:

“David Cameron and Gordon Brown are playing the politics of the airbrush and the focus group.

“One doesn’t know what he believes. The other doesn’t know what to do with the power he clings to so desperately.

“I believe the country wants something different. The Liberal Democrats are different. We offer credibility where it’s needed. And hope for our common future.”